Earth 2 #3 Review

Alan Scott is chosen as Earth’s new protector, by the Earth itself, no less, in Earth 2 #3.

Earth 2 #3

Alan Scott discovers that he has miraculously survived the train crash thanks to the aid of The Green, the living embodiment of Earth’s power.  The Green has done this in order for Scott to fulfill his destiny as the planet’s chosen protector in the coming war, one that the Green assures him will make the one with Apokolips look like nothing.  Meanwhile, Jay Garrick meets Hawkgirl, who takes a moment to test his abilities before revealing to him that something is killing all the plant life on Earth.  At the same time, the Capital Building in Washington is destroyed by this power, the Grey, and its emissary, Solomon Grundy.

So it seems that Alan Scott is now less a Green Lantern, and more of a handsome Swamp Thing.  The whole burning green flame, recalling the burning bush from Moses’ story, was a nice touch.  But while I personally do love it when heroes are chosen by the gods, so to speak, I’m surprised to find that Robinson has chosen to use the same device twice in the same story, two issues in a row.  Both Scott and Garrick are essentially “Billy Batsons” being given holy powers by two different “Shazams.”  Now admittedly, both Mercury and The Green are doing so in response to the same evil threat.  Here’s hoping that next issue, Al Pratt won’t receive his Atom powers from the ghost of Oppenheimer or anyone. 

I was a little tripped up by the use of The Green in Alan Scott’s story.  I mean, I knew he wasn’t going to become a member of the Green Lantern Corp or anything.  But still, it kind of bugged me.  That is, until I realized that the struggle between the Green and the Grey kind of echoes the Light vs the Black Lanterns in the main universe, especially with Grundy looking more like Nekron and less like Zombie Hulk on the last page.

The destruction of the Capital in the last few pages again emphasizes why I love this book and its world over the mainstream DCU.  In this world, literally anything can and has happened.  And sure, that kind of stuff happens in every other event book, but it’s usually forgotten by the end of the series.  So far, Robinson is playing in a world where actions have consequences, and superhero battles do create lasting scars. 

My only lingering qualm with the story is the seeming ease with which Alan gets over his fiancée’s death.  I know he asks the Green to bring him back, and morns him a little towards the end.  But this is the man he supposedly loved.  Shouldn’t he be a little more… distraught.  A more natural, even if temporary, reaction to these events would be “My boyfriend just died and you’re telling me the world is going to end.  Screw the world, my world did just end!”  But, the Green did take away Alan’s pain, so maybe it wasn’t just physical?

Flash and Hawkgirl’s story is just getting started, so it’s hard to really judge there.  They had some fun back and forth, with him being the clueless newbie and her being all Lara Croft-awesome and condescending.  Reminds me a little of Wesley and The Fox’s initial relationship in Wanted. 

So far, so good with this book.  Robinson and Nicola Scott have delivered every issue.  This is quickly turning into the book I most look forward to every month. 

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Tags: DC Comics New 52 Reviews Earth Two James Robinson JSA Justice Society Nicola Scott Slider